Latest California Healthline Stories
Syphilis Cases on the Rise in Several Regions of California, Despite National Decline
Syphilis cases are on the rise in several regions of California, despite soon-to-be-released CDC figures that show a nationwide decline, the Sacramento Bee reports.
California HealthCare Foundation Releases Articles Examining Solvency of State’s Medical Groups
The California HealthCare Foundation has released three articles this month examining the financial condition of physician groups in California and the effect failing medical groups have on the health system.
House Democrats Introduce $7B Bioterrorism Bill
House Democrats yesterday “unveiled” a $7 billion bioterrorism package yesterday that includes “far more funding for state and local preparedness than the Bush administration has proposed,” CongressDaily reports.
Wall Street Journal Reports on New Push to Help the Uninsured
The Wall Street Journal reports today that “the war on terrorism could lead to some of the biggest changes in federal health care policy in years” regarding the uninsured.
Patient Survey Gauging Quality of Care in California Hospitals Good First Step, Bee Says
A “new and worthwhile effort to gauge the quality of care inside California hospitals has come up short because most hospitals refused to participate,” a Fresno Bee editorial says, referring to a recent patient survey sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation and the California Institute of Health Systems Performance.
In a letter dated Tuesday, more than a two dozen health care and employer organizations — including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Health Insurance Association of America and the Healthcare Leadership Council, a coalition of health care organization chief executives — urged HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to make “critical changes” to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy rules.
HHS to Pay Differing Amounts for Cipro
Citing an internal HHS document, the Washington Post today reports that HHS’ agreement with Bayer to purchase the antibiotic Cipro calls for the department to pay 95 cents a pill for part of its order and 43 cents for another part, leading some lawmakers and consumer advocates to criticize the deal.
San Francisco Supervisors Mull Resolution Requiring Merchants to Post Health Risks of ‘Poppers’
The inhalant amyl nitrate, also known as “poppers,” is “staging a comeback” among gay men in San Francisco, and city officials are worried about the drug’s health risk and its role in HIV transmission, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
HHS Approves Medi-Cal Breast and Cervical Cancer Coverage for Uninsured Women
HHS yesterday approved California’s request to expand Medi-Cal coverage to low-income uninsured women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer, the AP/Fresno Bee reports.
Minnesota Ranks as Healthiest State
Minnesota is the healthiest state, and Louisiana is the least healthy state, according to annual state health rankings compiled by the UnitedHealth Foundation, the Daily Oklahoman reports.